ABIDE officially launched on 29 March 2007

ABIDE was officially launched on 29 March 2007 in an occasion that took place at the Addis Ababa Ghion Hotel with the presence of H.E Ato Fikru Dessalegne, State Minister for the Ministry of Capacity Building.

Over 150 participants from Government, NGOs, private sector, civil society, embassies, international organizations, from national and international media reporters and members of the Ethiopian Diaspora attended the meeting.

At the launch, strategic plan of ABIDE was discussed and endorsed. Also, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health Education and Youth & Sports shared their experiences on utilizing Diaspora resources. The International Organization on Migration (IOM) spoke on their regional and international experiences. A member of the Diaspora currently working in Ethiopia shared a personal experience which stimulated useful discussion on current issues, practices, constraints and opportunities on Ethiopian Diaspora’s participation and contribution to the country's socio-economic development.